title: Knowledge and attitudes about long-acting reversible contraception among Latina women who desire sterilization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing interest in increasing the use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), and suggestions that such methods may serve as an alternative to sterilization. However, there is little information about whether women who do not want more children would be interested in using LARC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted semistructured interviews with 120 parous Latina women in El Paso, Texas, who wanted a sterilization but had not obtained one. We assessed women's awareness of and interest in using the copper intrauterine device (IUD), levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), and etonogestrel implant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 51%, 23%, and 47% of women reported they had heard of the copper IUD, LNG-IUS, and implant, respectively. More women stated they would use the copper IUD (24%) than the LNG-IUS (14%) or implant (9%). Among women interested in LARC, the most common reasons were that, relative to their current method, LARC methods were more convenient, effective, and provided longer-term protection against pregnancy. Those who had reservations about LARC were primarily concerned with menstrual changes. Women also had concerns about side effects and the methods' effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, preferring to use a familiar method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although these findings indicate many Latina women in this setting do not consider LARC an alternative to sterilization, they point to an existing demand among some who wish to end childbearing. Efforts are needed to improve women's knowledge and access to a range of methods so they can achieve their childbearing goals.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Health Care Organization & Policy, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. kariwhite@uab.edu
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; C044815:etonogestrel; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017135:Desogestrel